Machine for use in applying heels to shoes



A ril 25, 1939. E. H. BASTABLE 2,155,581

MACHINE FOR USE IN APPLYING HEELS TO SHOES Filed Jan. 3, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet l f g I Menlar. I

April 25, 1939. E. H. BASTABLE MACHINE FOR USE IN APPLYINGHEELS TO SHOEI 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1958 md ZZME Mk April 1939- E. H.BASTABLE 2,155,581

MACHINE FOR usa IN APPLYING HEELS TO SHOES Filed Jan. 5, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 MACHINE FOR. USE. IN APPLYINGHEELS TO SHOES Edward H. Bastable, Clifton, Mass.

Application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,040

5 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and more particularlyto a machine or apparatus for use in applying a clamping member to anassembled heel and lasted shoe.

In accordance with conventional shoe-making practices, the heels areoften secured to the heelseat surface of the lasted shoe by a layer ofsuitable cementitious material which, if desired, may be supplemented bymetallic fastening elements 10 usually applied after the cementitiousmaterial has become set. Regardless of the type of adhesive or cementemployed, it is necessary that the lasted shoe and heel be maintainedrelatively immovable during the period required by the ce- 5 ment tobecome thoroughly set. To this end it has been proposed to apply varioustypes of clamping means such, for example, as a heavy elastic band aboutthe heel and lasted shoe so as to hold the parts firmly in assembledrelation.

Such clamping means are quite difiicult to apply and furthermore theapplication not only involves the danger of mispositioning the heel, butalso of smearing the exposed parts of the heel and upper with cement.

25 The principal objects of the present invention are to provide amachine capable of expanding an elastic band or the like expansibleclamping device so that the band or clamping device may be quickly andaccurately applied about the as- 30 sembled heel and lasted shoe by aninexperienced operator without danger of mispositioning the parts; andto provide a machine which is of simple construction, having but fewparts, which is reliable and efficient in operation, and which can 35 bemanufactured at a relatively low cost.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is anelevational view of a machine con- 40 structed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the principal operatingparts of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views showing different types of expansibleclamping means for holding the heel and lasted shoe in assembledrelation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective View of an adapter device for use inconjunction with an elastic band or the like clamping member;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevations showing different types ofclamping members and adapter devices applied to an assembled heel and 55lasted shoe;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views showing other modified types of clampingmembers; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an adjunct used in applying clampingmembers of the type shown I in Figs. 8 to 10. 5

The embodiment chosen for illustration comprises an upstanding hollowpost or pedestal I (Fig. 1) having at its lower end an opening 2 throughwhich projects a depressible treadle 4 I pivoted within the pedestal inany conventional 10 manner. The upper end of the pedestal supports acasing or housing 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed with a substantiallyrectangular opening 6 in its front wall '7. A substantially rectangularframe-like. member I0, formed integral with or rigidly se- 15 cured tothe interior of the housing, defines a chamber for the reception of anassembled heel and lasted shoe. The bottom wall of the housing 5 isprovided with an opening which receives an upstanding support II havingat its upper end a pin l2 adapted to be inserted in the usual holeformed in a last so as to hold the last in fixed position within thehousing. The lower end of the support II is rigidly secured in positionby a set screw I3 which, if desired, may be loosened to permit theremoval of one support and the substitution of another. The frame I0 isformed with a pair of upper and lower vertically extending slots l4 andI5, the lower slots being at approximately the same level as the top ofthe support H.

Arms l6, I'l, l8 and 19 are pivo'tally supported on transverselyextending shafts 28, 2|, 22 and, 23, respectively, which are secured tothe front and rear walls of the housing 5, the arms l6 and I! extendingthrough the upper slots [4 and the lower arms l8 and I9 extendingthrough the lower slots l5, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the arms areformed or otherwise provided with forwardly extending fingers 24, 25, 26and 21 disposed in 40 pairs about or on opposite sides of the support Il. The opposite ends of the arms Iii-l9 carry seg mental gears 30, 3!,32 and 33, respectively, the gears 38, 32 and 3|, 33 being arranged toprovide interengaging pairs, as shown in Fig. 2. Although the gears30-33 may, if desired, be of the same size (that is, have the same teethratio) so as to effect the same angular movement of their associatedarms, they are preferably designed so that the angular movement of theup- 5 per arms l6 and H is considerably greater than that of the lowerarms 58 and I9, and to this end the ratio of teeth of gears 32, 33 togears 30, 3| is of the order of 2 to 1.

An actuating rod 35 (Fig. 2) extends longitudinally within the pedestall and adjacent to its upper end this rod is slidably supported by abearing 36 formed in the bottom wall of the housing. The rod 35 extendsupwardly beyond the bottom wall of the housing to a point beneath theframe In which provides, in efi'ect, a stop limiting its upwardmovement. The lower end of the rod 35 is pivotally connected to thetreadle 4 in any conventional manner so as to be moved downwardly whenthe treadle is depressed, it being understood that a coil spring or thelike (not shown) may be provided to effect the return movement of therod 35 and associated parts. The upper end of the rod 35 carries atransversely extending beam 38, the opposite ends of which projectlaterally beyond the sides of the frame It,

and links 40 and 4| are pivotally connected to the ends of the beam andto the lower arms l8 and I 9 at points 42 and 43, respectively.

The parts are so constructed and arranged that the fingers 26 and 21 arenormally disposed on each side of and at substantially the samehorizontal level as the support H, and the fingers 24 and 25 aredisposed on each side of the vertical line of the support H, but at asubstantial distance above the same, as shown in Fig. 1. When thetreadle 4 is depressed, carrying the rod 35 and associated partsdownwardly, the arms I8 and I9 are swung downwardly so that the fingers25 and 21 are disposed adjacent to the lower part of the frame I8, andthe arms I6 and l! are simultaneously swung upwardly so that the fingers24 and 25 are disposed adjacent to the upper part of the frame [0, asshown by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 2.

The machine herein shown is particularly suitable for use in applying anexpansible, self-contractible clamping member to an assembled heel andlasted shoe. A clamping member of this type may consist of a heavyrubber band 45, as shown in Fig. 3, or a coil spring 46 whose ends aresecured together to form a circular band, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Ifdesired, a clamping member such as is shown in Fig, 5, may be employed,which comprises a pair of spaced jaws 50 and 5!, slidably supported by apair of bolts 52 and 53 carrying springs 54 and 55 between their headsand the upper jaw 50. The jaws 5D and 5| are preferably fromed withoffsets 56 and 51 shaped to receive the heel and edge of the last.

Where a clamping member such as is illustrated in either Figs. 3 or 4 isto be used, it is advisable, if not necessary, to employ an adapterdevice such as is shown in Fig. 6, in order to prevent the band fromslipping off or becoming accidentally mispositioned about the assembledheel and lasted shoe. The adapter device 60 comprises a length of steelhaving one end 5! shaped to engage the tread of a heel and its oppositeend 62 shaped to engage the rear surface of the heel, the intermediateportion 63 being recessed to receive the clamping member. In order toprevent scarring the surface of the heel, the end 62 may be providedwith a rubber or felt pad 65 which also serves to enhance the frictionalgrip of the adapter on the heel.

When using a machine constructed in accord ance with the presentinvention for applying a clamping member of the type herein shown to anassembled heel and lasted shoe, the clamping member, such as a band 45,is positioned about the fingers 2421; meanwhile a heel. I0 is positionedagainst a cementitious layer applied to the heel seat surface of alasted shoe II, and. the adapted 60 is then applied in the manner shownin Fig. 7. The operator then inserts the assemblage through the opening6 of the housing 5 and at the same time depresses the treadle 4, thuscausing the band 45 to expand, as illustrated by the dot and dash linesof Fig. 2. The assemblage is positioned on the support II and thepressure on the treadle is gradually reduced so as to permit the band tocontract about the lasted shoe ll, I2 and the recessed portion 63 of theadapter 60, as shown by the full lines of Fig. 2, thus firmly clampingthe heel and lasted shoe in proper position. The assemblage may then bewithdrawn from the housing, care being taken to prevent the fingers 2421from accidentally mispositioning the band 45. After having withdrawn theassemblage from the housing, it may be put aside for a time sufficientto permit the cementitious material to become thoroughly set, afterwhich the band may be removed either by hand or by using the machineherein shown.

When using a clamping member such as is 11- lustrated in Fig. 5, the useof an adapter device may be dispensed with where, as is preferred, suchclamping member is designed to extend about the heel and edge of thelast [2; otherwise the clamping member may be applied in a mannersimilar to that of the clamping bands 45 and. 46. In either case such aclamping member may be inserted within the housing so that the fingers242'| are operative to expand the jaws 5!! and 5| when the treadle 4 isdepressed, the remainder of the operation being the same in all materialparticulars as that above described.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, the clamps shown therein each comprises alength of heavy spring 14 bent to provide an approximately C-shapedmember having at one end a corrugated foot 15 adapted to engage the heelIll of the lasted shoe, and at its opposite end a conical-shaped element16 adapted to be inserted in the spindle hole of the last 12. of theclamp, the wire 14 may be bent to form either an intermediate loop 18,as shown in Fig. 8, or an intermediate U-shaped portion 19, as shown inFig. 9, although it is to be understood that, if desired, such parts maybe eliminated, as shown in Fig. 10. In any event, it is desirable toprovide a heel-positioning member 8!! (Fig. 8) effective to hold theheel 16 in proper position. As here shown, the positioning member 89consists of a collar 8| disposed about the upper section of the clamp14, a thumb screw 52 carried by the collar BI and engageable with thewire 14 to hold the collar in any desired position of longitudinaladjustment, and a positioning finger 84 carried by the collar andengageable with the outer face of the heel in, as shown in Fig. 8.

In order to apply a clamp of the type shown in Figs. 8 to 10 to anassembled heel and lasted shoe, using a machine of the type shown inFigs. 1 and 2, a pair of adjuncts 85 (Fig. 11) is preferably used, eachadjunct comprising a rigid metal strip 86 having an elongate slot 8'4formed in its body portion and a centrally disposed recess 88 in oneedge.

When using clamps of the type shown in Figs. 8 to 10, a pair of adjuncts85 are inserted through the opening 6 of the housing (Fig. l) one of theadjuncts being fitted so that the fingers 24, 25 extend through its slot8! with its recessed edge uppermost, and the other adjunct beingsimilarly fitted to the lower fingers 26, 2'! with its recessed edgelowermost. When thus positioned, a clamp may be applied with its upperand lower sections fitting into the recesses 88 which hold it from Inorder to enhance the resiliency slipping, and the treadle 4 of themachine may then be depressed to effect an extension of the clampsuflicient to permit an assembled heel and lasted shoe to be positionedon the support II, as previously described. The positioning finger 84may then be properly adjusted, the pressure on the treadle released, andthe assemblage withdrawn from the housing, it being understood that whenthe treadle is released, the adjuncts 85 are carried toward each othersufliciently to permit their removal from about the fingers 2421 andthus permitting removal of the clamp and the assembled heel and shoe.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of theinvention, it is to be under stood that this disclosure is for thepurpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportionand arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalentelements for those herein shown and described, may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a support adapted toreceive and hold in fixed position an assembled heel and lasted shoe, aplurality of relatively movable fingers disposed in spaced relationabout said support, and means for effecting relative movement of saidfingers in a direction away from each other and away from said support,said fingers normally being arranged to fit within and support anexpansible, self-contractible, clamping member so as to cause theclamping member to expand to an extent sufficient to permit an assembledheel and lasted shoe upper to be positioned on said support.

2. A machine of the class described comprising an upstanding supportadapted to receive and hold in fixed position an assembled heel andlasted shoe, a pair of relatively movable arms disposed on each side ofsaid support, each of said arms having fingers normally arranged to beinserted within the confines of an expansible clamping member, and meansfor effecting relative movement of said arms so as to cause said fingersto expand said clamping member to an extent sufiicient to permit anassembled heel and lasted shoe to be positioned on said support.

3. A machine of the class described comprising an upstanding supportadapted to receive and hold in fixed position an assembled heel andlasted shoe, a pair of relatively movable arms disposed on each side ofsaid support, each of said arms having fingers normally arranged to beinserted within the confines of an expansible clamping member, adepressible operating lever, and connections between said arms andoperating member operative to effect relative movement of said arms whensaid lever is depressed, thereby to expand said clamping member.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a housing having anopening through which an assembled heel and lasted shoe may be inserted,a support within said housing for holding the assembled heel and lastedshoe in fixed position, a plurality of relatively movable fingersdisposed within said housing and in spaced relation about said support,means for effecting relative movement of said fingers in a directionaway from each other and away from said support, said fingers normallybeing arranged to fit within and support an expansible clamping memberso as to expand said clamping member to an extent suflicient to permitan assembled heel and lasted shoe to be positioned on said support.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a housing having anopening through which an assembled heel and lasted shoe may be inserted,a support within said housing for holding the assembled heel and lastedshoe in fixed position, a pair of relatively movable arms pivotallymounted within said housing and disposed on each side of said support,each of said arms having fingers normally arranged to be inserted withinthe confines of an expansible clamping member, and means for effectingrelative movement of arms so as to cause said fingers to expand aclamping element carried thereby to an extent suificient to permit anassembled heel and lasted shoe to be positioned on said suport.

EDWARD H. BASTABLE.

